Gilding on a 15th century stone relief from Dubrovnik: technical study vs. Cennini’s recipe

  • Sandra Sustic Hrvatski restauratorski zavod
  • Vinka Marinkovic Croatian Restoration Institute in Split (Stone Department
  • Jure Balic Student
  • Martin zohil Student
  • Vinko Bonomi Student
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.856
Keywords: Gilding, stone relief,, historically based reconstruction, ground layers, Cennino Cennini’s recipe CLXXIV

Abstract

 During 2016, the Croatian Conservation Institute carried out a demanding conservation and technical research on a 15th century gilded polychrome stone relief from Dubrovnik, attributed to Pietro di Martino da Milano (c.1410-1473). The process proved to be a valuable opportunity to better understand the materials degradation and the techniques used by the Master. Due to the difficulty of determining the existence of impregnation and ground layers, two experimental reconstructions were created as part of a student project – one based on the interpretation of research results obtained during the conservation treatment, and the other based on art technological source research, namely the Cennino Cennini’s recipe, CLXXIV. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of these layers on the final gilding and to get an insight into the Master’s experience via the “learning-by-doing” method. The experimental results indicate that the cause of the damages and the consequent fragility of the original relief, might have its origin in the absence of impregnation and ground layers.

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Author Biographies

Sandra Sustic, Hrvatski restauratorski zavod

Has a degree in conservation-restoration of easel paintings and polychrome wood, at the Arts Academy of the University of Split (UMAS) in 2007 and a Ph.D. in Art History (Department for Protection of Cultural heritage), at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia in 2016. Presently, she is head of Šibenik Department for Conservation of the Croatian Conservation Institute, and associate lecturer at UMAS (Department for conservation-restoration). Her fields of research are theoretical and practical aspects of painting retouching, technical art history, historically informed reconstructions of paintings and history of conservation practice.

Vinka Marinkovic, Croatian Restoration Institute in Split (Stone Department

Was born in 1983 in Split. She graduated in 2007 at the Art Academy of the University of Split. Since 2016 she holds a PhD in Archeology (University of Zadar). Marinković is employee of the Croatian Restoration Institute in Split (Stone Department). Participates and leads conservation-restoration, documentation and research projects of cultural heritage. She is an assistant professor at the Art Academy of the University of Split.

Jure Balic, Student

Was born in 1995, in Split (Croatia). From 2009 to 2014 he attended School of Fine Arts in Split where he got his education as a painter. In 2014 he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Split where he is currently getting his degree in stone conservation.

Martin zohil, Student

Was born in Pula, Croatia in 1996. He completed the Stonemason School in Pucisca, on the Island of Brac. He is currently a fourth-year student in the field of conservation-restoration of stone artefacts.

Vinko Bonomi, Student

Was born in Split. She completed the School of Fine Arts in Split (The Design Department). She is currently a fourth-year student in the field of conservation-restoration of stone artefacts

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Published
2020-12-10
How to Cite
Sustic, S., Marinkovic, V., Balic, J., zohil, M., & Bonomi, V. (2020). Gilding on a 15th century stone relief from Dubrovnik: technical study vs. Cennini’s recipe. Ge-Conservacion, 18, 298-306. https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.856
Issue
Vol. 18 (2020): Ge-conservación Nº18
Section
Suplemento
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